NEW for 3/18: On tax time, primary candidates and gerrymandering

GwinnettForum  |  Number 21.20  |  Mar. 18, 2022

LILBURN CELEBRATES St. Patrick’s Day with its Lilburnchaun Parade on Saturday, March 19, from 3-5 p.m. at Lilburn City Park. A Leprechaun stilt walker and bagpipe player will lead the parade around the field. Enjoy food and entertainment and see who wins the prizes.

 IN THIS EDITION

TODAY’S FOCUS: Tax time need not be stressful, says GGC professor
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Wow! Voters face 117 candidates during Gwinnett primary
ANOTHER VIEW: Gerrymandering not inevitable; but it stays with us
SPOTLIGHT: MTI Baths Inc.
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: Security cameras in two CIDs result in major crime reduction
NOTABLE: Peach State FCU sends donation to help Ukrainian Credit Union Fund
RECOMMENDED: The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Richard Aeck noted for synthesis of engineering and architecture
MYSTERY PHOTO: Don’t let clues fool you as you identify this photograph
CALENDAR: Lilburn’s Liburnchaun Parade will be Saturday, at Lilburn City Park

TODAY’S FOCUS

Tax time need not be stressful, says GGC professor

By Collin Elder

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.  |  Tax season is a hectic and stressful time of the year for many people. Dr. Cathy McCrary, assistant professor of accounting at Georgia Gwinnett College, has some important tips. McCrary says that tax season, while tumultuous for some, is really fairly simple for most people. 

“When it comes to tax preparation, employees with side jobs, the self-employed and business owners generally have more to keep track of than people who work for one employer,” she says.

That may sound intimidating, but what’s important to keep in mind is that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers tools to facilitate the tax filing process.  One such tool, available at the IRS website, irs.gov, is the Tax Withholding Estimator that helps filers more accurately complete form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Certificate to control the amount of federal income tax withheld from one’s paycheck. 

“It’s ideal to avoid having too little or too much tax withheld. Although some might enjoy having a big refund, a small or zero refund means having more of your money in your pocket during the year instead of waiting to get it back after filing your tax return,” said McCrary.

For those nervous about filing on their own, the IRS offers the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax preparation and tax counseling services for those who qualify. Additionally, the IRS Free File program, a partnership between the IRS and industry leaders in tax preparation services, delivers free online preparation and filing of federal tax returns to qualifying taxpayers. Free File Fillable Forms are available to all taxpayers at no cost.

“Just make sure you’re being safe” said McCrary, in reference to identity theft risks. “If you want to use the Free File Program, then access a Free File partner via the IRS website. Be wary of cyber criminals’ ability to spoof entire websites.”

Filers should submit taxes when they receive their required documents, for a number of reasons. Along with receiving their refunds sooner, submitting early could be the difference between having taxes commandeered by a cybercriminal and making sure they’re safe from cyber theft.

At the end of the day, however, McCrary said it shouldn’t feel like a race to complete tax forms.

“It’s important to get started. When preparing your taxes online, you can always save what you’ve done and come back to complete it later.”

EEB PERSPECTIVE

Wow! Voters face 117 candidates during Gwinnett primary

By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum

MARCH 18, 2022  |  This year is going to be a hot season in Gwinnett politically, as 117 persons are candidates for local office. Wow.  So many!

Lots of offices have several candidates.  Out of all the many seats open, four legislative candidates have no opposition at all, meaning they’ll be back for the 2023 General Assembly without having to pound the pavement for votes.  Those four lucky ones are all Democrats, long-time serving  Rep. Dewey McClain of Lilburn; newcomer Rep. Marvin Lim of Norcross; Rep. Karen Bennett of Stone Mountain; and newcomer state senator Nikki Merritt of Grayson.  

They join three local judges who will have no opposition in the May 25 non-partisan election without opposition:  Superior Court Judges George F. Hutchison and Tracey Mason plus State Court Judge Ronda Colvin Leary. 

Three Superior Court judges have opposition. Judge Tracie Cason has opposition from Andre Johnson; Judge Tim Hamil will face Karen Scott Greene; and Judge Angela Duncan has opposition from BT Parker.  In State Court, three candidates are seeking to win the seat now held by Judge Pamela South, who is retiring. They are Erica Dove, Matt Miller and Elaine Amankwah Nietmann. 

In a race for Solicitor General, two Democrats face one another. The current office holder, Brian Whiteside, has opposition from Lisamarie Bristol. 

Check this out: there are 25 seeking seats in the U.S. Congress, running in three different districts. You read it right: 25 people seeking three seats.

Sixth District has nine Republicans running and two Democrats.  We know little about these candidates, and hope to learn more in the coming weeks. Republicans running include Jake Evans of Roswell; Byron Gatewood, Meagan Hanson of Brookhaven; Blake Harbin of Alpharetta; Rick McCormick of Suwanee; Paulette Smith of Kennesaw; Mallory Staples of Alpharetta; Suzi Voyles of Atlanta; and Eugene Yu of Alpharetta. This seat is currently held by Democrat Lisa McCoy, a Democrat, who chose to run this year in the Seventh District. (Note that some candidates did not list where they live.)

The majority of Gwinnett is in the Seventh District. Altogether there are eight candidates running for this seat in Congress, a post held now by Democrat Carolyn Bourdeaux of Suwanee, who is seeking re-election. Former Sixth District Congressman Lucy McBath is also seeking this seat in a new district for her. State Rep. Donna McLeod of Lawrenceville, is also running for this post.

On the Seventh District Republican side,  the five candidates are Michael Corbin of Peachtree Corners; Mark Gonsalves of Norcross; Lisa McCoy; YG Nyghstrom; and Mary West of Norcross. 

In the Ninth Congressional District, of which the northwest portion of Gwinnett is included, there are six candidates. Mike Ford is the only Democrat seeking this post. The five Republican candidates are Michael Boggus; Andrew Clyde of Jefferson, currently a Congressman in another district; J. Gregory Howard of Lawrenceville; John London; and Ben Souther of Murrayville.

In state legislative races, it’ll be mostly quiet during the primary, as 19 of 27 races have only one candidate of each party; and four races have only one Democratic candidate. That leaves only four legislative races with more than two candidates.

Redistricting has caused some interesting races. In new House District 100, there are three candidates. Two current Republicans legislators, Rep. Bonnie Rich and Rep. David Clark, will face each other for the GOP nomination. They will face Democrat Louisa Shell Jackson in November.

Two current Democratic legislators will vie for their party’s nomination in District 106. They are Rep. Shelly Hutchinson and Rep. Rebecca Mitchell. The winner will take on Republican Preston Wren in November.

ANOTHER VIEW

Gerrymandering not inevitable; but it stays with us

By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga.  |  Gerrymandering in Gwinnett and elsewhere is not inevitable. Neither is it mandated that the two parties will ignore the needs of their constituents and only pursue their self-interest.  

Any democracy is only as strong as its voters and the people that they elect. If they don’t support fair redistricting, then the steady march towards authoritarian rule is inevitable. 

Along these lines, a recent study came out with disturbing findings regarding partisan redistricting. Pew research found that most Americans were rather lost when asked their views about the topic. Hardly any Republicans or Democrats have heard much about it. Of GOP voters, nearly two thirds were unsure how redistricting was handled, as were half of Democrats.  

However, the principle of “one person-one vote” is key to any democracy or democratic republic. The results of this survey tell me that schools, the media and politicians are failing to educate our current and future voters about how the system should function to be consistent with this basic tenet of democracy. 

So, what does the term “gerrymandering” mean? Merriam-Webster defines it as “the practice of dividing or arranging a territorial unit into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage in elections.” The key word to understand is “unfair”. 

What is happening today under gerrymandering is unfair to all  Americans, although it helps politicos of both parties. 

Every 10 years, there’s a census. Subsequently, local, state and federal voting districts are drawn. In a few states, this is done objectively by non-partisan commissions. From the standpoint of fairness, all states should do this. But it is not mandated in the  Constitution. And, very unfortunately, our current right-wing Supreme Court decided in a 2019 decision that it is legal and cannot be contested in the federal courts.  

So, solely for political self-interest, almost all states don’t use a fair process versus a political one. As one source stated: “…the process is used to draw maps that put a thumb on the scale to manufacture election outcomes that are detached from the preferences of voters.” 

At the national level last year, the “For the People Act” was introduced to stop state gerrymandering. It passed the U.S. House. However, because gerrymandering currently favors the GOP (which control most state legislatures), the Republican Senate leadership killed the bill. 

Unless more enlightened leaders are elected, there will be little progress toward eliminating gerrymandering and our democracy will suffer. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

MTI Baths Inc.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s featured sponsor is MTI Baths Inc. of Sugar Hill. MTI Baths is a manufacturer of high-quality acrylic and engineered solid surface bath products, including whirlpools, air and soaking baths; lavatories; shower bases; and kitchen sinks. MTI’s patented Fill-Flush® and Simple Touch® whirlpool cleaning systems are the best on the market. MTI now offers engineered solid surface–countertops and sinks. Every product is custom-made to order. We are now operating in an additional manufacturing plant of 38,000 square foot. CEO of the firm is Kathy Adams, while Russell Adams is president. 

FEEDBACK

Send us your thoughts

We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum.  Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown.  The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length.  Send feedback and letters to:  elliott@brack.net.

UPCOMING

Security cameras in 2 CIDs result in major crime reduction

Installing safety cameras in two Community Improvement Districts (CID) has resulted in major crime reduction.  Flock Safety Automatic License plate reading cameras have directly attributed to the increased success in stopping and/or solving crimes both the Gwinnett Place and Sugarloaf CIDs.

During 2021, Gwinnett County Police Department’s Central Precinct used the CIDs’ Flock Safety cameras to help recover 104 stolen vehicles with a total value of $1,472,410. They also made 199 arrests, located 93 wanted persons, conducted 46 investigations that led to arrests, and recovered 33 stolen tags. 

In one year, these numbers translate to a 53 percent decrease in commercial burglary, a 23 percent decrease in car break-ins, and a 5 percent decrease in residential burglary compared to 2020.

Major C.T. Rafanelli, Central Precinct commander, says: “Having Flock Safety cameras at our disposal has been invaluable to the department and the statistics prove it. Both Gwinnett Place CID and Sugarloaf CID have been extremely helpful in placing cameras throughout their districts so we cannot only solve but also help to prevent crimes from taking place.”

In 2020, Gwinnett Place CID began working with the Gwinnett County Police Department’s Central Precinct police to install 50 Flock Safety cameras in 36 locations. After proving the initial successful utilization of the technology by Gwinnett Police, the GPCID board of directors invested in additional cameras. Today, there are 63 cameras strategically placed in more than 60 locations throughout greater Gwinnett Place, along with 15 throughout the Sugarloaf district.

According to Major Rafanelli, “The cameras have been a game-changer in our ongoing efforts to keep Gwinnett’s central business district at Gwinnett Place one of the safest locations in the County. The number one reason crimes go unsolved is that the police may not have sufficient evidence to solve the case, therefore the cameras are key tools in our fight against crime. GPCID’s camera locations are based on historical crime data and the experience of our officers patrolling the area.”

Joe Allen, GPCID executive director, remembers: “When the GPCID Board of Directors approved installation of Flock Safety cameras in the district we knew the investment would quickly provide positive results. We are more than pleased with how the increased number of cameras and the daily CID-funded community patrols have helped keep visitors and the area’s over 27,000 employees safe.”

Alsyssa Davis, executive director of Sugarloaf CID, echoes similar thoughts: “Keeping Sugarloaf CID community members safe is of the utmost importance and we’re so thankful to the Gwinnett County Police Department for collaborating with us as we installed our Flock Safety cameras around the district. The results we’re seeing are proof of what can happen when communities work together with law enforcement in conjunction with modern technology.”  

PCOM offers concentration in medical cannabis

Medical cannabis has been legalized in 37 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. As a result, an estimated two to three million patients are receiving treatment with the drug for conditions such as neurological disorders, opioid dependence, inflammatory diseases and sickle cell anemia. 

In response to the need for experts within dispensaries, Doctor of Pharmacy students at PCOM Georgia may now customize their degree program by choosing a concentration in medical cannabis.

The new medical cannabis concentration is a result of a collaboration between Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and Organic Remedies, a Pennsylvania-approved marijuana research center and clinical registrant partner, with dispensary locations across Pennsylvania. PCOM and Organic Remedies have signed a long-term agreement to conduct research on the therapeutic applications of medical marijuana.

Julie Wickman, PharmD, assistant dean of clinical and experiential affairs for the PCOM School of Pharmacy, notes that pharmacists are the only individuals who can dispense cannabis in Pennsylvania. She explained that PCOM’s pharmacy students will begin this concentration as early as this fall and receive training at a Philadelphia-area dispensary in their fourth year of the program. Dr. Wickman said, “This concentration also covers federal and state-wide policies and the current legislative landscape in Georgia.”  

Michael Lee, PhD, assistant dean for professional and student affairs for the School of Pharmacy, said, “Because of the central role that pharmacists play in medical cannabis, the current and projected workforce needs across the country are enormous. We hope to position PCOM as a leader in this area by offering this unique training experience.” 

The evolving use of medical cannabis by patients provides opportunities for pharmacists to consult with these patients and develop treatment plans according to their condition and physicians’ recommendations. Pharmacists are also key to ensuring compliance with state regulations.

NOTABLE

Peach State FCU sends donation to help Ukrainian fund

The Peach State FCU C.A.R.E.S. Foundation announced a $25,000 donation to the Ukrainian Credit Union Displacement Fund, which was established by the Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) in partnership with the World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU). The fund was created to provide financial support to mitigate the short- and long-term impacts to the Ukraine’s credit union system as Russian troops continue their violent invasion against the country.

Mike Reuter, WFCU’s executive director, says: “We recognize the money is needed to assist the Ukrainian people right now, which is why we are working to identify partner organizations that can put the generous donations from the international credit union community to good use immediately. But we also know that credit unions, their employees, their members, and their communities will need long-term assistance to get back on their feet, which is something we have always worked to provide in times of crisis.  Peach State has always been a champion with us in moments of global CU crisis to support, and we are tremendously grateful for the resources.”

Peach State’s President/CEO, Marshall Boutwell adds: “The credit union philosophy ‘people helping people’ is simple yet powerful. As not-for-profit financial cooperatives, credit unions share a communal goal to provide financial support to better the lives of their neighbors near and far”

He adds: “We as credit unions have a social responsibility to help all community members – from serving the needs of members within our footprint, to our fellow credit unions and their communities across the globe. We are honored to back WFCU and WOCCU, and applaud their efforts to help credit unions, their staff, and members in Ukraine. It is our hope that our fellow credit union colleagues will continue to step up and support this worthy and noble cause.”

Two Gwinnett students win slot on Washington Youth Tour

Two Gwinnett students have won delegate positions for the 2022 Washington Youth Tour, selected by Jackson Electric Membership Corporation. The tour is scheduled for June 16-23.  

Vacha

Boers

David Boers, a junior at Gwinnett Online Campus High School, and Jillian Vacha, a sophomore at North Gwinnett High School, were chosen for the all-expense-paid leadership development experience sponsored by Georgia’s electric cooperatives and organized by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Chip Jakins, Jackson EMC President/CEO, says: “Our delegates represent the values of Jackson EMC with their commitment to community service, high standards of integrity, and a spirit of cooperation.”.  

Boers is the son of Megan and Jacobus Boers of Suwanee. At Gwinnett Online Campus High School, he is the AV booth manager for the theater and fine arts program, organizer for the gaming tournament and Model United Nations  member. Boers is a member of the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team. He volunteers his data and systems analysis expertise to local leaders. Boers plans a career studying elections, polling, and voting trends.

Vacha is the daughter of Swapna and Zacharias Vacha of Suwanee. At North Gwinnett High School, she is the music director for the advanced musical theater program, treasurer of the school’s UNICEF chapter and secretary for the Science National Honor Society. Vacha is a member of the Gwinnett Student Leadership Team and the Junior Economic Club of Atlanta. She is a volunteer instructor at Mathnasium and a Bharathanatyam classical dancer. She is a PCOM (Philadelphia College of Medicine) Future Healthcare Scholar and plans to be an anesthesiologist.

Two other Jackson EMC delegates selected are Ansley Robinson, junior at Madison County High School, and Isaac Miller, junior at East Jackson Comprehensive High School.

Since 1965, the Washington Youth Tour has given more than 3,300 Georgia students and more than 53,000 students nationwide the opportunity to participate in this leadership and team-building experience. For more information on the Washington Youth Tour, go to jacksonemc.com/wyt

RECOMMENDED

The Night Watchman,by Louise Erdrich

From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain:  This book focuses on Thomas Wazhashk, who watches over the jewel-bearing plant near the Turtle Mountain Reservation in rural North Dakota.  He is also Chippewa council member who is trying to understand the potential devastating meaning the new “emancipation” bill that is being vetted by the United States Congress. While it will seemingly free the community to evolve and prosper, it will actually spell the end of the fragile but close-knit community.  Pixie Paranteau, who insists on being called Patrice, works in a plant in a job that barely pays enough to support her, her brother and mother.  Her sister Vera is missing, and she is determined to find her regardless of potential dangers. The memorable story, filled with many more colorful characters, is based on author Louise Erdrich’s grandfather’s experiences on the Chippewa Council in 1954. It is a saga that has moments of heartbreak, supernatural mystery, and grandeur.

  • An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next.  Send to: elliott@brack.net 

GEORGIA TIDBIT

Aeck noted for synthesis of engineering and architecture

In the pendulum swing between the traditional building arts (whose basis for beauty is ornamented form) and modern construction (concerned with function and economy of line and finding beauty in efficiency), the Atlanta architect Richard Aeck found a remarkable synthesis of engineering and architecture.

In Aeck’s work, structure is expressive and form is an elegant and direct reflection of construction. His Grady High School Stadium (Atlanta, 1948) is a masterpiece of modern engineering expression. The concrete building displays its ordinary materials and purpose yet maximizes the expressive potential of programmatic features in simple lines and honest construction. 

Similarly, the concrete lily pads on minimal golf-tee supports that form the Dining Pavilion at Callaway Gardens (1953) in Pine Mountain, defined and sheltered outdoor space and manipulated scale so that the architectural unit was presented as a superscaled sculpture.

Engineering is art and art is engineering in early Aeck buildings, where structure prevails as expression and is the basis of Aeck’s sense of beauty in architecture. As at Pier Luigi Nervi’s contemporary sports stadiums, Aeck’s articulated ribbed dome at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum at the Georgia Institute of Technology (1957) in Atlanta becomes the totality of architecture as enclosed space for use, defined structurally, spatially, and formally. It rises 75 feet and radiates thirty-two identical steel girders to enclose a diameter of 270 feet in a building that is one-third below grade.

Richard L. Aeck was born in 1912 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. After studying at Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, Aeck received a B.S. in architecture at Georgia Tech in 1936. He worked in Colombia and Brazil, serving as chief designer for F. T. Ley and Cia, chief architect for Pan American Airways. He also was consulting architect for Agricultural University in Cambodia and consultant for the Medical Mission Sisters for the design of the Nurses’ Home and School in Uganda. 

He returned to Georgia Tech as a design critic and served as associate architect with Bush-Brown, Gailey, and Heffernan on the west stands at Georgia Tech’s Grant Field (1947-48). Here he again engineered a structural tour de force, transforming an ordinary function to expressive formal purpose. In 1948 he received mentions in Progressive Architecture for both the Grant Field and Grady High School designs, and his parking deck on Williams Street won an award citation from that journal in 1954. By the mid-1950s, Aeck’s work was published and recognized for its design excellence and innovative engineering.

(To be continued)

MYSTERY PHOTO

Don’t let clues fool you as you identify this photograph

Some of the clues in this edition’s Mystery Photo may confuse you. Look beyond that and try to identify the location of today’s photograph. Send your answers to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown.

Amy Perry, Lilburn easily spotted the most recent mystery: “I recognize today’s Mystery Photo. It is the Charleston City Market in Charleston, S.C. The market is located in the historic downtown area on Meeting Street. There are many vendors and artists selling their goods there daily. It’s a popular tourist attraction and is miserably hot and humid in the summer. I recently moved to Lilburn, but grew up in Charleston.”  The photo came from Chuck Cimarik of Peachtree Corners.

Others recognizing it were David Will, Lawrenceville; Robert Foreman, Grayson; Annette McIntosh, Duluth; Ross Lenhart, Stone Mountain; Hoyt Tuggle, Buford; Rob Ponder of Duluth; and George Graf, Palmyra, Va., “Historic Charleston City Market, 188 Meeting Street, Charleston, S.C. I really enjoy city markets.  I miss the ones that were in almost every town and village in Germany and France when I was stationed overseas.”

Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. added more: “This rather unique photo taken inside one of the four buildings that make up the Charleston City Market in the heart of the historic district. It features a string of pavilions and display tables that local artisans use seven-days a week to sell their crafts to the mobs of residents and visiting tourists. What is so unique about this photo is that it was taken during a period of time when the market was closed, and so lacks the normal hustle and bustle that is typically associated with this marketplace.

“Established in the 1790s, the Charleston City Market consists of the Market Hall as well as three, single-story sheds that stretch across three city blocks (bounded by Meeting, N. Market, E. Bay and S. Market Streets). The mystery photo was taken inside one of these smaller sheds, which were part of the original market before the larger, more ornate Market Hall was added in 1840.”

CALENDAR

Lilburn’s Lilburnchaun Parade will be Saturday, March 19, from 3-5 p.m. at Lilburn City Park. Dress in your most festive St. Patrick’s Day attire and decorate your bike, stroller or wagon for the 2022 Parade. Meet in front of the park band shell for the kick-off event.  A Leprechaun stilt walker and bagpipe player will lead the parade around the field. Enjoy food and entertainment and see who wins the prizes.

Quince Gil Expo will be  Sunday, March 20 from noon until 4 p.m. at Best Friend Park, sponsored by the Gwinnett Parks and Recreation Department.  Admission is free and the event will feature an expo hall with exhibitors for decor, bakery, fashion and more. There will be door prizes, a grand prize drawing for a party room rental, entertainment by Alma Mexican Dancers. A runway show featuring the latest trends in Quinceañera fashion, sponsored by Miss International Grand Latina and Miss Quince Boutique. For more information, call (678)-277-0920. Best Friend Park Gym is located at 6224 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Norcross.

Sundays in Suwanee Series with bestselling author Vanessa Riley will take place on Sunday, March 20 at 3 p.m. at the Suwanee Library Branch, 361 Main Street, Suwanee. Join the award-winning author as she discusses her historical novel, Island Queen, based on the true-life story of Dorothy “Doll” Kirwan Thomas, a free Black woman who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies.

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